Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-23
GOOD FOR THE SOUTH.
An Honest ex-Canfadevato
Speaks His Mind IN Plain
Terms.
Claiming that the Late War was
Beneficial to Dixie Land

DALLAS, Tex, Aug. 22.-At the ex-
confederate reunion DR.. A. G. Clopton,
of jefferson, a representative of Hoods
brigade was a speaker. After paying
oratorical tribute to the gallantry of the
confederate soldiery, he delivered himself
in the following manner
"We came not to indulge in self lauda7
ton, nor to mourn over those who died
in defense of what they believed to be
sacred principles; it is with living prin-
ciples that we have to do. 1t is III
privilege to help to build up the nations
greatness, develop its wealth, conserve
its honor, and transmit to posterity civil
liberty. When we surrendered our flag
to the enemy we did SO in good faith;
when we resumed our allegiance to the
federal government we did SO, under
standing our duties and obligations to
the government. 1t was well that the
war was fought when it was, and it is
we'll that it ended as it did. [S~ensatiop.
start not at this bold assertion. 1t is
made calmly and deliberately by one who
loved the south as truly then, and who is
as devoted to its interests now as you; it
is uttered by one who claims and believes,
and proudly acknowledges to having
made the love that was made in Texas; it
is made by Il who was a member of the
secession convention and who helped to
make the ordinances CT secession. 1t Is
made by one who loves the south, with
whom her disgrace is his disgrace, her
honor his honor, her God his God.
II repeat it is we'll that the war was
fought as it was, and it is well that it
ended as it did. l feel confident of the
south and of the republic, and | stand
before You as the defender of the south
and advocate of the union and the champ
ion of ciyilsliberty; and when | say it is
well that the war was fought when it
was and that it ended as it did, If you
follow me you will understand the APP
parent paradox. And now for my argu-
ment:
81 hold that accession was q corollary
of the safeguards that were thrown
around the constitution against decen-
tralization. Any one who has read the
debates which preceded the framing of
the constitution will acknowledge the
truth of that assertion. Immediately
after the adoption of the constitution
Massachusetts, asserted the right OF
peaceable secession; and, finally, the
south by united action not only asserted,
but exercised, that right.
"TherefoIe, when she took up the
| sword in defense of her action, she but
Sexercised IN organic and constitutional
right. But this first application of the
principle of peaceabie secession proved a
failure and we must realize today thai
the very issue, the very principle fol
which we fought was a political heresy,
impracticable, impossible of application
it has been eliminated from the politica.
issues of the American people. ZAP
plause.l
nPerhapsif the attempt had been mad,
Immediately after the adoption Of til,
constitution, peaceahle secession nigh
have been possible, because the states
were then isolated. having little or M
commercial connection, and such con
nection being then greater with TIL,
mother country; but a long time ha.
elapsed since such q thing was possible
The trainers of the constitution did no
apprehend the rapid progress that thu
nation was about to make. They did no
apprshend that the railroads would con
meet all parts Of it with bands OF stee
n VIM oulI AOV PdIud Sulu6T
Peaceable secession, as we understood it
proved an euemy to state progress, for i
proved absolutely necessary that TIL
states should remain as they were
Therefore, practically peacenble seces
sion proved TO be a practical heresy
Applause,
Had the constitution of the confede
racy been successful and won the fins
victory, and had that confederacy beel
organized upon the principles of stat
sovereignty aud pesceable secession, i
would not have stood the test of nation
\ Atty a quarter of q century. Issue
would have divided the states.
"Texas, feeling herself more powerful
politically than the other states of tn
oonfederacy, and perhaps restrained il
the exercise of political ambition b
those other states, would probably i
time have withdrawn from the confede
racy, and that withdrawal would hay
resulted in war. Then Is IL not well tina
the question ended as it did, Had it bee
postponed until this day centralizatio
would have got such control upon th
federal government that the victory {
the union armies would have led to
Caesar and a crown.
Tile next lesson taught by our fratr
ctdal struggle was that war is incompat:
Bile with civil liberty; that an appeal t
arms is no remedy, but that an appeal t
suffrage, in~telligently and morally exel
cised, is the civilized and true mode Z
rearess.''
The speaker defended states rights a
. safeguard against federal. u~surpation
He did not wish to be understood as or
posing the institution of slavery. Their
was, he contended, divine authority ID
thei institution. 1t was an actual niece,
sity to solve the problem of cotto
culture. That question solved, ther
was no further need of it, and he wa
satisfied that had there been no war til
gradual emancipation Of slaves would b
now in progress.
Stanford win DO the Fair Thing.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. ea-ams agon
| Of the railroad iuvaytfuatinn is orac /.